Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall was one of the most important figures in the Civil Rights Movement. Born in the 19th hundreds during a very racially segregated era, Marshall, being an African American, “fought against what he saw as injustice. In doing so, he helped change the lives of all African Americans

( “Brown v. Board of Education”) Marshall was instrumental in ending segregation and became the first African American justice of the Supreme Court. Thurgood was a significant figure in American history because he fought for economic, social, and political justice for minorities as well as helped stop segregation in America’s education system.

Marshall, being a minority, became interested in becoming a lawyer to help minorities gain equal opportunities as whites. Thurgood originally named “Thouroughgood” after his grandfather was born on July 2, 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland. His father was William Marshall, a steward, and his mother Norma Williams, a teacher. Growing up, Thurgood's mom wanted him to become a dentist while his dad hoped at least one of his sons would become a lawyer. Marshalls first contact with the law began in high school because he would do poorly in school and always misbehaved. As a punishment his high school[Baltimore’s Colored High and Training School] made Marshall sit and read the U.S constitution. Thurgood also credits his father for making him choose his career as a lawyer and “making him an advocate and these discussions at home with stimulating his interest in competitive debating and confronting injustice” (Gibson 44) Marshall states “‘He never told me to become a lawyer, but he turned me into one… he taught me how to argue, and challenged my logic on every point.’” (Whitelaw 12) Marshall’s father stimulate...

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...ion system of Jim Crow, who had an even more profound and lasting effect on race relations than either of King or X” (WIlliams 1) Thurgood Marshall was a significant figure in America because he ended racial segregation which had a lasting effect and made America into what it is today. ”We make movies about Malcolm X, we get a holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, but everyday we live with the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall.” (- A tribute to Thurgood Marshall) Although other Civil Rights leaders tried to end racial segregation the progress Thurgood Marshall’s made in the Civil Rights movement was the most significant in desegregating society and equalizing African Americans. All the accomplishments Thurgood Marshall made through the courts to help minorities in society have equal justice is what makes Thurgood the most significant figure in American history.